Bowl Chronicles: Christmas Eve at the Hawaii Bowl Edition
The main story line behind tonight’s mid-major clash in Hawaii between Nevada and SMU is the return to postseason play of the Southern Methodist Mustangs. The Ponies from Dallas have not been bowling since 1984, when after that season they were discovered to be running a pay for play scheme and the NCAA threw the book at them, giving the program the Death Penalty, banishing them from play for several years. When they were allowed back on the field, they were nothing more than the worst expansion team you can envision any pro league fielding. For 20 years they searched for that winning mojo they once had. At least for one season, they have rediscovered that touch. A program that was among the nation’s elite–the last time they were relevant their Pony Express Backfield of Eric Dickerson and Craig James was unstoppable–is back with their first accomplishment to hang their hat out since the NCAA hammer belted them out of the game a quarter century ago. Coincidentally, the last bowl game the Mustangs were in was played in the same stadium tonight, back in the 1984 Aloha Bowl, where they upended Notre Dame 27-20. LOLIrish. In honor of their achievement, I wont make any mention the Dickerson and James were also the highest paid backfield in the game. Or joke about wondering how much money did boosters pony up to get favors from the Lady Islanders for their boys on the football squad. Because that would be rude and not in the propert spirit of the season.
HAWAII BOWL: SMU vs NEVADA. LINES: Nevada -11, O/U 70.5
The star of this SMU turnaround is undoubtedly head coach June Jones. He’s ending the decade the way he ended the last decade, by engineering an historic turnaround. And, he’s returning home the triumphant hero. He took over the Hawaii program in 1999 after a winless season, immediately installed his Run ‘N Shoot offense and authored an historic one-year turnaround, leading the Bows eventually to a bowl victory over Oregon State to cap off his first season. He created a nice program in Hawaii and took over SMU last season. The Mustangs had a one-win season when he took over and any quick fix turnaround was dashed when Junes club went 1-11 again in 2009. The fruits of the labor came this season with wins in four of the final five games to get to bowl eligibility and a return trip to Hawaii for Jones.
This team pretty much does what you’d expect a Jones team to do: Pass, pass, pass and, then for good measure, pass even more. They’re 26th in the nation throwing the football, despite some flux this season at the B position. Incumbent Bo Levi Mitchell was pegged as the star that Jones could ride to a bowl season in Dallas, but he went down in midseason. Redshirt freshmen Kyle Padron took over and the offense got better as he showcased not only better big play potential, but also less ability to throw the ball to the other team. Mitchell is healthy and it will be interesting to see if Jones pulls any strings if Padron struggles.
In the end, I dont think it will matter. SMU is a one-trick pony (see, what I did there), and, with all due respect to their accomplishment this year, surged to this bowl game on the backs of wins over some of the worst teams in Conference USA. The problem the Ponies have is they dont have a good defense and its not nearly enough on the side of the ball to stop Nevada’s churning rushing attack.
We all know Nevada. The pistol offense. Running the football with power and skill that actually makes them a mid-major version of those powerful Cornhusker teams from yesteryear. They rush for over 360 yards a game. Colin Kaepernick and Vai Tunai are a good bet to each go voer the century mark in rushing. This offense has the ability to play ball control with their run game to keep the ball away from SMU passing attack’s, but it also has the ability to to take any run to the House. While their stats show a sub[ar passing attack, dont let those numbers fool you. They run so much that their overall passing numbers suffer. Kaepernick has tossed 19 scores to just 5 INTs, he completes 60 percent of his passes and has the best threat in this game–despite SMU’s passing fancy–in WR Brandon Wimberly.
Will SMU makes dents in Nevada’s defense? Absolutely. They will land some punches. Nevada has too much balance, though, from top to bottom. They will get defensive stops. They will break serve. Unless the Pack implodes, I dont think we’ll see Nevada’s punter all night. After a close start, eventuall Nevada puts the petal to the mettle and runs right by SMU by more than 2 touchdowns.
The Pick: Nevada -11, 1 Unit……..this line has been sinking all month from the opening bell call at -15. I’ll get in cheap. Truly, I dont expect to see the Nevada’s punter all night. Both teams come in hot–SMU is 6-1 ATS as a dog, Nevada has covered 7 of their last 9 game. Nevade will stay hot to end the year.
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